Conservative, liberal find common ground to fight poverty

7:16 PM,
Jan. 17, 2014

Lynda Johnson Robb, daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson's daughter, (right) joined by members of the Congressional Black Caucus and others, speaks during an event on Capitol Hill in Washington this month to mark the 50th anniversary of President Johnson's declaration of the War on Poverty.

Written by

Cal Thomas and Bob Beckel

Thomas is a conservative columnist. Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. But as longtime friends, they can often find common ground on issues that lawmakers in Washington cannot.

CAL: The biblical quote "the poor you will always have with you" should not be taken as fatalistic but an opportunity to help as many who are willing to work to escape poverty. That has not been the result of government programs over the last 50 years. Today there are about as many poor people as when Lyndon Johnson announced a "War on Poverty."